Last Call for the Low Power Television and Translator Digital Upgrade Program

The deadline for analog low-power television stations and translator stations to apply for a federal grant to cover digital upgrade costs is fast approaching. The last day that National Telecommunications and Information Administration can accept grant applications under the Digital Upgrade Program is July 2.

While all full-power television stations in the United States had to upgrade to digital broadcasting in 2009, thousands of analog low-power television stations and translator stations have until 2015 to make the transition. The Digital Upgrade Program provides reimbursements of up to $20,000 to analog low-power stations in eligible rural communities that have completed the transition and are now broadcasting digital signals. Eligible stations include Class A stations, low-power television stations, as well as translator and booster stations. NTIA currently has $22 million available for Digital Upgrade Program awards. More than 1,000 low-power stations have already received funding. But NTIA’s authority for the program will expire on September 30. In order to process all applications by that deadline, NTIA must receive all applications by 5 p.m. on July 2.